The Bride of Willow Creek(55)
And that was unforgivable. Dropping her glance, Angie looked at the rose-painted teacup and tried to imagine her mother ever referring to Angie as weak-willed and lacking moral character. No matter what sin Angie might have committed, no matter what her mother thought privately, Emily Bertoli would have leaped from a three-story building before a disloyal word passed her lips.
“And Lucy and Daisy! The shame they must feel!”
“The girls are young,” Angie said slowly. “I don’t think they grasp the stigma of—”
Mrs. Govenor leaned forward. “I tried to warn Laura. I told her that she was throwing away her reputation, her life, her family. I warned her that her children would grow up in shame.”
While Mrs. Govenor continued to list the warnings she’d given Laura, Angie wondered how her parents would have reacted if she had defied their wishes and gone West with Sam. Would they have disowned her as the Govenors had done? Because they disapproved of her choice? Or would they have come around eventually and wished her well?
And it suddenly and shockingly occurred to her that it was just barely possible that Sam was not entirely to blame for her wasted years. An argument could be made that her need for her parents’ approval had been stronger than her love for her new husband.
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I don’t know if you’re aware of the situation between Mr. Holland and myself.”
Mrs. Govenor sat back with a look of disgust. “Mr. Holland called on us shortly before Laura broke our hearts and ruined our good name. He explained that the two of you never had a real marriage. That you remained in Chicago by choice, and that he expected you to seek a divorce at some point.”
“That’s true,” Angie said, nodding. “Your daughter didn’t steal my husband, as you put it.” Angie had thrown him away. If she could have figured a way to mention that Sam was an unused husband when Laura got him, she would have said so. He had been as good as new in that regard. But Sam’s ring was and always had been on Angie’s finger, and that was all Mrs. Govenor cared about. “Sam and I were never really husband and wife. We should have divorced years ago.”
“Then why did you come here?” Mrs. Govenor stared at her with undisguised dislike. “If you hadn’t come to Willow Creek, no one would ever have known that Laura wasn’t an honest, decent woman. Our name would be untarnished.”
Angie felt her gorge rising with an odd sympathy for Laura. “From everything I’ve heard, your daughter was an honest, decent woman. She made an unfortunate choice, but that doesn’t change who she was. From all accounts, she was a good person.” What had the world come to? Now Angie was defending a woman she had loathed up till this minute. In fact, as recently as this morning, she had agreed with Mrs. Govenor’s assessment of her daughter’s character. But it pained her that Laura’s mother could no longer recognize any admirable qualities in her daughter.
“Your defense of a woman who lived openly with your husband shocks me, Mrs. Holland. Your sentiments confirm my opinion that you’re totally unsuitable to care for my granddaughters.”
Angie’s spine snapped to attention and her eyes widened. “I beg your pardon.”
“If you believe a woman who chooses to live in adultery can retain any honesty or decency, then you clearly should not be acting as a mother to my granddaughters. May heaven protect them from your influence!”
Sputtering, Angie fell backward in her chair.
“And don’t think you’re fooling anyone. Mr. Govenor and I know why you came here.”
“I came in hopes of obtaining a long-overdue divorce.”
“We know the real reason. And I promise you this ploy will come to nothing. When Sam fails to provide Daisy’s much-needed operation, the court will award custody to us. If Sam thinks bringing his wife into this house will alter the court’s ruling—it won’t. Your presence and the implication of forgiveness and acceptance means nothing. Underneath, Sam Holland is still an immoral man.”
Angie’s pulse pounded at the base of her throat. “Sam has made his share of mistakes, maybe more than his share, but he is not immoral! I haven’t been here long, but I’ve talked to enough shopkeepers and townspeople to know that Sam is well liked and respected.”
“This pretense of creating a stable household is only that. A pretense. I wasn’t in Willow Creek more than three hours before I knew Sam was sleeping in your backyard.”
“I will not discuss our sleeping arrangements with you or anyone else.” Outrage flamed on her cheeks. “But I can assure you that I did not come to Willow Creek because of your custody suit.” Anger shook her voice. “I didn’t know about Laura or the girls until I arrived.”